Thursday, May 30, 2013

Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini today.. but is this really a mini version of the full-sized S4 after the disappointment of the S III Mini?

The answer is simply.. no. The S4 Mini is not a mini version of the S4, it's a completely different and much less powerful handset. Although the specifications of the "Mini" are not bad, they are in no way close to the fully-blown S4. Yes, its about 25% lighter and has a 20% smaller footprint, so it's definitely not as massive as the S4, but that really is about all it has going for it.

A quick look at the comparison table below shows just how far off the Mini is:

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini

Samsung Galaxy S4

Screen size

4.3"

5.0"

Screen resolution

540 x 960

1080 x 1920

CPU

1.7GHz dual-core

1.9GHz quad-core

RAM

1.5GB

2GB

Internal storage

8GB

16GB / 32GB / 64GB

Primary camera

8 megapixels

13 megapixels

Secondary camera

1.9 megapixels

2 megapixels

NFC

Yes

Yes

LTE

Yes

Yes

OS

Android 4.2.2

Android 4.2.2

It looks like a pretty cynical marketing exercise by Samsung to try to pass off this inferior handset as anything like the Galaxy S4. Unfortunately, Samsung will probably convince many media outlets and customers that it is such a thing..

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

This week BlackBerry announced that they were porting their popular BBM messaging application to Android and iOS, and it also gave a preview of the upcoming BlackBerry Q5 device that should be cheaper than the existing Q10.

We don't know much about the Q5, for some reason BlackBerry aren't very forthcoming about the specifications, but a cheaper handset is definitely needed to replace the popular but obsolete BlackBerry Curve range. Although the Curve is widely used by businesses trying to stretch their budget, it is the handset of choice for most BBM users who tend to be a youthful lot.

So.. on one hand, BlackBerry is saying to BBM users "here's a nice new phone for you".. but then they're saying "but you don't need it". It certainly looks like BlackBerry have severely dented the market for the Q5 before it even gets to the shops.

Obviously, porting BBM to Apple and Androids is a good move for the BBM platform, but BlackBerry are going to give it away for free and it's hard to see how they will generate any revenue from it, and certainly not enough to make up for the lost handset sales.

Of course, locking BBM users into BlackBerry handsets would probably eventually kill the platform off anyway, and it's been clear for a while that BlackBerry needs to do something to reverse its previous dead-end strategy. But the danger is that BlackBerry have just accelerated the decline in hardware sales.

Despite the modest success of the rather good Z10 and Q10 handsets, BlackBerry are still in a desperately poor strategic situation. The BlackBerry 10 OS was two years late to market, and had they launched BB10 smartphones instead of the disastrous PlayBook (which BlackBerry can't even seem to give away) then it might have made a difference. In our view, BlackBerry passed to point of no return some time ago, and the long-term future seems to be pretty bleak.

Yes, there are still a lot of BlackBerry fans about, but it seems to be a steeply declining user base. We suspect that the company will continue to slowly bleed to death during 2013 and will then have to throw in the towel at some point next year, with the remaining parts sold off to interested parties. We hope that we are wrong though..

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Waterloo, ON – BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB) today
announced plans to make its ground-breaking mobile social network,
BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), available to iOS® and Android™ users this
summer, with support planned for iOS6, and Android 4.0 (Ice Cream
Sandwich) or higher, all subject to approval by the Apple App Store and
Google Play. BBM sets the standard for mobile instant messaging
with a fast, reliable, engaging experience that includes delivered and
read statuses, and personalized profiles and avatars. Upon release, BBM
customers would be able to broaden their connections to include friends,
family and colleagues on other mobile platforms.
In the planned initial release, iOS and Android users would be able
to experience the immediacy of BBM chats, including multi-person chats,
as well as the ability to share photos and voice notes, and engage in
BBM Groups, which allows BBM customers to create groups of up to 30
people.
“For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are inseparable from the
mobile experience, and the time is definitely right for BBM to become a
multi-platform mobile service. BBM has always been one of the most
engaging services for BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily
connect while maintaining a valued level of personal privacy. We’re
excited to offer iOS and Android users the possibility to join the BBM
community,” said Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President, Software
Product Management and Ecosystem, at BlackBerry.
BBM is loved by customers for its “D” and “R” statuses, which show up
in chats to let people know with certainty that their message has been
delivered and read. It provides customers with a high level of control
and privacy over who they add to their contact list and how they engage
with them, as invites are two-way opt-in. iOS and Android users would be
able to add their contacts through PIN, email, SMS or QR code scan,
regardless of platform. Android users would also be able to connect
using a compatible NFC-capable device.
BBM has more than 60 million monthly active customers, with more than
51 million people using BBM an average of 90 minutes per day. BBM
customers collectively send and receive more than 10 billion messages
each day, nearly twice as many messages per user per day as compared to
other mobile messaging apps. Almost half of BBM messages are read within
20 seconds of being received; indicating how truly engaged BBM
customers are.
Today, BlackBerry also announced BBM Channels, a new social
engagement platform within BBM that will allow customers to connect with
the businesses, brands, celebrities and groups they are passionate
about. BlackBerry plans to add support for BBM Channels as well as voice
and video chatting for iOS and Android later this year, subject to
approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play.
If approved by Apple and Google, the BBM app will be available as a free download in the Apple® App StoreSM and Google Play store. Additional details about system requirements and availability will be announced closer to the launch.

Waterloo, ON – BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB) today
introduced the BlackBerry® Q5, a new youthful and fun BlackBerry® 10
smartphone for selected markets. The BlackBerry Q5 smartphone features a
QWERTY keyboard with discrete keys in a stunning youthful design that
is confident, fun, and bold. Every feature, every part of the BlackBerry
Q5 has been built to provide a fast, effortless experience that flows
and moves with you to help you explore, create, and share while on the
go.
“BlackBerry is excited to bring a new BlackBerry QWERTY smartphone, the BlackBerry Q5,
to our customers in selected markets around world,” said Thorsten
Heins, President and CEO of BlackBerry. “The BlackBerry Q5 gives you the
best of everything with its cutting-edge BlackBerry 10 functionality
and a physical QWERTY keyboard. It is for youthful fans that are
passionate, confident and bold, and it makes it easy for them to have
fun, create, share and stay connected.”
As part of the BlackBerry 10 experience, the BlackBerry Q5 smartphone
offers a powerful and unique mobile computing experience that
continuously adapts to your needs. Features and apps work seamlessly together, allowing your every move to flow into the next. Highlights of the BlackBerry Q5 smartphone include:The evolution of the classic BlackBerry Keyboard
The BlackBerry Q5 features a classic BlackBerry Keyboard with
discrete keys that has been re-engineered and elegantly designed to help
you type fast, accurately and with the least amount of effort. Plus
with Instant Action shortcuts you can type to perform tasks faster. The
BlackBerry Q5 smartphone gives you the best of both worlds – a classic
QWERTY keyboard for optimized communications and a 3.1” touchscreen for
all the rest.Create the perfect shot with BlackBerry Time Shift mode and Story Maker
Create the picture perfect shot with BlackBerry® Time Shift mode,
then create and share your story, weaving together your photos, videos
and music into a movie with BlackBerry® Story Maker.Share and be seen with BBM Video with Screen Share
Instantly switch your BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger) chat to a BBM
Video conversation and catch up face-to-face. You can even share your
screen, whether it’s a photo, a page in the browser, an idea, or a view
from your camera.*Stay close to what’s important to you with BlackBerry Hub
With BlackBerry® Hub, all of your messages and social conversations
are only one swipe away. There’s no need to stop what you’re doing.
Simply peek into the BlackBerry Hub from anywhere with a swipe to
effortlessly flow in and out of your messages and conversations. BlackBerry World delivers a rich, thriving app and content ecosystem
Discovering and sharing great apps and content is easier than ever
with recommendations based on similar purchases, and access to more than
100,000 apps on the BlackBerry® World™ storefront.Pricing and Availability
The new BlackBerry Q5 smartphone will be available in selected
markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia (including the Asia
Pacific region), and Latin America, with expected availability beginning
in July.
For more information BlackBerry 10, please visit www.blackberry.com/blackberry10
*Compatible BlackBerry 10 smartphones, Wi-Fi, 4G or HSPA+ connection
required. Additional restrictions apply visit blackberry.com for
details.About BlackBerry
A global leader in wireless innovation, BlackBerry® revolutionized
the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry
aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the
world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences.
Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates
offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.
BlackBerry is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: BBRY) and the
Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BB). For more information, visit www.blackberry.com.

Nokia introduces Nokia Lumia 925

New interpretation of world's most innovative smartphone captures the best low light images

London, UK - Nokia today introduced the Nokia Lumia 925, a new interpretation of its award-winning flagship, the Nokia Lumia 920. The Nokia Lumia 925 introduces a metal design and showcases the latest PureView camera innovation, new features and third party applications coming to the Nokia Lumia range.

The Nokia Lumia 925 includes the most advanced lens technology and next generation imaging
software to capture clearer, sharper pictures and video, including the
best low light images. The Nokia Lumia 925 also introduces the new Nokia
Smart Camera mode, coming as an update to all Lumia Windows Phone 8
smartphones. Nokia Smart Camera offers an easy way to capture ten images
at once and edit the pictures with options like Best Shot, Action Shot,
and Motion Focus for creating the perfect high quality image.

Nokia
also announced Hipstamatic's new app, Oggl, will arrive on Nokia Lumia
smartphones, allowing people to take and share high quality pictures
with like-minded creatives and photography enthusiasts from around the
world. In addition to sharing photos on Oggl, users can simultaneously
share photos on social networks including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare,
Tumblr, Flickr and Instagram.

"We keep
innovating," said Jo Harlow, executive vice president of Nokia Smart
Devices. "We're advancing experiences on the Nokia Lumia portfolio
whether that means great new benefits for an existing Lumia owner, or
bringing new showcase devices like the Nokia Lumia 925."

The Nokia Lumia 925 introduces metal for the first time to the Nokia Lumia range,
bringing appeal and unique benefits like increased robustness. The
polycarbonate back comes in white, grey or black. A wireless charging
cover can be clipped onto the back of the phone to take advantage of
Nokia's extensive wireless charging accessories and ecosystem. Covers,
sold separately, come in white, black, yellow, and red.

Leading
Nokia services, such as the HERE suite of integrated location and
navigation services and Nokia Music for unlimited streaming of free
music playlists, add to the great proposition offered by Nokia's latest
smartphone.

The Nokia Lumia 925
is being introduced into Europe with Vodafone, along with other
operator and retail partners. Patrick Chomet, group director of
Terminals at Vodafone said: "The new Nokia Lumia 925 is a sleek and
sophisticated smartphone delivering great performance and outstanding
imaging. We look forward to offering the Nokia Lumia 925 across our
markets on Vodafone Red, as well as other tariffs, enabling customers to
make the most of their new smartphone on Vodafone's fast and reliable
network. Vodafone customers will also have exclusive access to a 32GB
version of the Nokia Lumia 925, giving them even more capacity to store
all their content for personal and business use."

Terry
Myerson, corporate vice president, Microsoft Windows Phone Division,
added: "Together with Nokia, we continue to change the way people think
about smartphone cameras. The work Nokia has done with the Lumia 925
further enhances the imaging capabilities of the Lumia smartphones."

In addition to Europe, the Nokia Lumia 925
will be introduced into the US by T-Mobile and into China by China
Mobile and China Unicom. Sales are expected to start in the UK, Germany,
Italy, Spain and China in June, followed by the US and a number of
other markets. The Nokia Lumia 925 will be priced around 469 EUR before
taxes and subsidies. Country-specific pricing and availability will be
announced locally.

Nokia Lumia 925

Operating system

Windows Phone 8

HERE location and mapping services

Free global HERE Maps and HERE Drive+;Free HERE Transit available in the Store

About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications whose products have
become an integral part of the lives of people around the world. Every
day, more than 1.3 billion people use their Nokia to capture and share
experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to
one another. Nokia's technological and design innovations have made its
brand one of the most recognized in the world. For more information,
visit http://www.nokia.com/about-nokia

With
Nokia's award-winning PureView imaging innovation, including optical
image stabilization, the Nokia Lumia 928 enables people to capture
bright, blur-free photos and videos, even in low light conditions such
as indoors or at night. Great looking images come easily when snapping
them with the smartphone's 8.7MP camera featuring a high-quality, wide
angle Carl Zeiss lens. The Nokia Lumia 928 also comes with powerful
Xenon flash to freeze the moment.

In addition to
amazing imaging and video capabilities, the Nokia Lumia 928 offers rich
distortion-free audio capture, even in noisy conditions. Built with
three high-audio-amplitude-capture (HAAC) microphones and one of the
most advanced loudspeakers available for smartphones, people can record
and play back the sound just like they first heard it, all the way up to
140db - the sound equivalent of an airplane taking off. These features
shine when using Vyclone, a new app for Windows Phone that lets people co-create, sync and edit multiple views of a shared moment.

"Whether
you're attending a party, a concert or a sporting event with friends,
the Nokia Lumia 928 excels at capturing high-quality video, audio and
blur-free photos of life's most share-worthy moments," said Matt
Rothschild, vice president, Nokia North America. "Verizon Wireless
customers, we heard you and the wait is over - we're excited to offer a
Nokia flagship smartphone, specially designed and optimized for the
nation's largest 4G LTE network."

At first touch,
the Lumia 928 feels sleek, solid and fits perfectly in the hand. The
stunning new smartphone introduces a 4.5" OLED display delivering
crystal clear, bright content with great outdoor visibility and a fast,
responsive touch-screen even when your fingertips are covered up. The
glass extends to the very edge of the phone for a high-end feel.

The
Nokia Lumia 928 includes access to signature Lumia apps including the
complete set of the feature-rich, intuitive and customizable HERE
experiences. HERE Maps, HERE Drive+, HERE Transit** and HERE City Lens
help people navigate their life every day. Using Nokia Music with Mix
Radio, people can enjoy unlimited streaming of free music playlists with
the option to create personal playlists and download for listening
offline. Digital camera lenses and apps, including Smart Shoot,
Cinemagraph, Panorama, and Photobeamer**, enable people to unleash their
creativity.

The Nokia Lumia 928 also comes with built-in wireless charging; just lay it down to power-up, it's that easy.

Powered by Windows Phone 8Windows
Phone 8 offers a truly personal smartphone experience, with an iconic
Start screen that can be easily arranged to reflect individual
priorities and animated Live Tiles for real-time updates on the people
and things that matter most. With the same modern look and feel, Windows
Phone 8 is built to work seamlessly with Windows PCs and tablets,
Microsoft Surface devices and the Xbox 360 console so that files, music,
pictures and videos can be accessed in whichever way is most
convenient. The Windows Phone Store features more than 145,000 apps for
customers to choose from, with hundreds added every day. Getting things
done while on-the-go is easy with Internet Explorer 10 for faster, safer
browsing and Microsoft Office Mobile integration.

AvailabilityThe
Nokia Lumia 928 is available for purchase in white or black at Verizon
Wireless stores and online beginning Thursday, May 16 for USD99 after a
USD50 mail-in rebate, with a new two-year customer agreement. For a
limited time, get a USD25 credit for Windows Phone apps and games with
the purchase of a Nokia Lumia 928.*

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Nokia introduces the Nokia Asha 501

New Delhi, India and Espoo, Finland - Nokia today unveiled the first of a new family of Asha smartphones with the introduction of the Nokia Asha 501.
The handset pushes the boundaries of affordable smartphone design with
bold color, a high-quality build and an innovative user interface. The Nokia Asha 501
is the first device to run on the new Asha platform, which is designed
to make the experience faster and more responsive. The Asha platform
also helps developers to create, publish and make more money from apps
made specifically for the new generation of Asha devices.

Standout design, innovative user interface

The Nokia Asha 501
makes high-end design and quality accessible to more people. The device
is available in a choice of six striking colours that complement the
elegant design. It comes in just two parts: a durable, removable casing
and the scratch-resistant glass display, which features a three-inch,
capacitive touchscreen and a single 'back' button. The compact new Asha
weighs only 98 grams, for the ultimate portability.

The Nokia Asha 501
is built to make it easier for people to access everything they love,
with a simple swipe and a choice of two main screens: Home and Fastlane.
Home is a traditional, icon-based view for launching individual apps or
accessing a specific feature, like the dialler or phone settings. The
new Fastlane view was inspired by how people really use their phone.
Recently accessed contacts, social networks and apps, unique to each
person, are stored and presented in Fastlane. It provides a record of
how the phone is used, giving people a glimpse of their past, present
and future activity, and helping them multi-task by providing easy
access to their favorite features.

Smarter and more personal Internet experiences

The
new Asha comes with Nokia Xpress Browser pre-loaded, which compresses
Internet data by up to 90%. This is aimed at making mobile browsing
faster and more affordable. Nokia also announced the availability of
Nokia Xpress Now, a new Web application that recommends content based on
location, preferences and trending topics. It will be available via the
Browser homepage or as a download from Nokia Store.

"Nokia
has surpassed expectations of what's achievable in the sub-100 USD
phone category with a new Asha handset that is unlike any other, with
design cues from Lumia and a mix of features, services and affordability
that is valued by price-conscious buyers," said Neil Mawston, executive
director, Global Wireless Practice, Strategy Analytics. "This is a
welcome addition to the market and a refreshing option for consumers
looking to upgrade from feature phones."

Asha platform for next-generation family of devices

The new Nokia Asha 501
was purpose-built to give people the best possible mobile experiences
at an affordable price. It is highly efficient, with an industry-leading
standby time of up to 48 days*. The Asha 501
is the first smartphone built on the new Asha platform, which leverages
Nokia's investments in Smarterphone, a company which Nokia acquired in
2012.

The new Asha platform provides developers
with an open, standards-based environment for creating quality apps for
consumers. Developers can create apps for the Nokia Asha 501
that will be compatible with future Asha platform-based devices. Nokia
gives developers the chance to make more money through the global reach
of Nokia Store and tools like Nokia In-App Payment and Nokia Advertising
Exchange (NAX), as well as Nokia's unparalleled operator billing
network.

Many of the most popular applications are
already available or in development for the Nokia Asha platform,
including CNN, eBuddy, ESPN, Facebook, Foursquare, Line, LinkedIn,
Nimbuzz, Pictelligent, The Weather Channel, Twitter, WeChat, World of
Red Bull and games from Electronic Arts, Gameloft, Indiagames,
Namco-Bandai and Reliance Games. WhatsApp and other key partners
continue to explore new Asha.

The HERE experience, based on Nokia's leading location-based platform, will also be available as a download for the Nokia Asha 501, starting in Q3 2013 and will initially include basic mapping services.

"The
new Nokia Asha 501 raises the bar for what is possible in affordable
smartphone design and optimization," said Timo Toikkanen, executive vice
president, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "The synergy between the physical
design and the engine that is the new Asha platform has created a
smartphone with both style and substance at a great price."

Facebook and global operators to support Nokia Asha 501 with free data plans

The Nokia Asha 501
is expected to start shipping in June 2013. It is expected to be
available through approximately 60 operators and distributors in more
than 90 countries worldwide.

"We are very happy to
offer the new Nokia Asha 501 through our subsidiaries in the continent.
We are certain that this innovative device will follow the successful
footprint of the Nokia Asha family, combining affordability with the
best communication and Internet browsing capabilities," said Marco
Quatorze, Value Added Services Director for America Movil.

A
leading operator in the Asia-Pacific region, Telkomsel is also
supporting the arrival of the new Nokia Asha. "The Nokia Asha 501 will
help us to boost the mobile Internet in Indonesia. It is powered by
innovations like the Nokia Xpress Browser, based on a very efficient
data consumption technology which allow us to offer best data plan
tariff for people," said Alistair Johnston, Chief Marketing Officer
(CMO) of Telkomsel. "We have a billing agreement with Nokia that
supports the creation of local applications absolutely relevant to
Indonesian consumers."

The popularity of the
Nokia Asha family has also prompted innovative approaches to bundled
mobile services. Nokia, Facebook and mobile network operator Airtel
announced they have joined forces to offer data-free access to the
standalone Facebook app, as well as the mobile site m.facebook.com. By
the end of second quarter, current Airtel subscribers in Africa and
India** will be able to enjoy unlimited, data-free access to Facebook
from their Nokia Asha 501 for a limited period of time.

Commenting
on the partnership, Andre Beyers, Chief Marketing Officer for Airtel
Africa, said: "The collaboration with Nokia is in line with our strategy
of enabling people to access data in Africa as we seek to bridge the
digital divide across the continent. We're already witnessing tremendous
growth in data use across the 17 countries where we operate. The
provision of free Facebook access is an excellent proposition to the
millions of Airtel consumers. We are extremely delighted to partner with
Nokia to give our consumers an even better mobile experience."

Telkomsel
will provide a specific Nokia Telkomsel Asha data plan that offers up
to 500 MB of data use and includes 60 minutes of calls and 60 SMS. The
company will also provide a one month free data plan to consumers using Nokia Asha 501 that can be used for all mobile Internet activities including access to Facebook or downloading apps.

"This
bundle is a great way to discover Facebook on your Nokia Asha and enjoy
the experience for longer without worrying about data charges," said
Vaughn Smith, VP mobile partnerships, Facebook. "Working in close
partnership with Nokia and global operators made this offer possible and
we're excited to help connect the world on Facebook."

MTN, a leading operator across Africa, said it will also offer the Nokia Asha 501
and ease access to Facebook. "We are excited to support this initiative
with Facebook in Nigeria and Zambia and we are looking forward to
expand it to other markets," says Pieter Verkade, group chief commercial
officer at MTN.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

PRESS RELEASE – Krusell - TOP-10 selling phones for April 2013.

May 02, 2013 16:20 BST

1. (1) Sony Xperia Z 2. (2) Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4 3. (3) Apple iPhone 5 4. (-) HTC ONE 5. (8) Apple iPhone 4 6. (5) Sony Xperia ZL 7. (9) Samsung Galaxy i9300 SIII Mini 8. (6) Samsung I8190 Galaxy S III 9. (4) HTC One Sv10. (-) Sony Xperia V
() = Last month’s position.
The
interest for Xperia Z is still strong which shows its top position for
the second consecutive month of Krusell’ s top seller list says Ulf
Sandberg. Yet a new competitor for Xperia is right around the corner,
the Samsung’s Galaxy S4 which recently hit stores and is predicted to be
a best-seller. Thus, with these kinds of players it is no question that
Apple will struggle in the future race of the consumer, he ends.
The
Swedish manufacturer of carrying cases for portable electronics,
Krusell, releases its Top 10-list for April 2013. The list is based on
number of pieces custom made mobile- and smartphone cases ordered from
Krusell during April 2013. The list of Krusell is unique due to the fact
that it reflects the sales of phones in six continents and in more than
70 countries around the globe.

Krusell Group with 200
million SEK in turnover, and more than 500 employees around the globe is
a Swedish lifestyle-house in which several consumer electronic brands
reside such as Motörheadphönes, Krusell and the ecofriendly BioSerie.
After more than 20 years in the mobile phone industry, Krusell is
established as one of the leading brands in its niche. Besides cases for
smart phones, Krusell also sell, develop and manufacture laptop-,
tablet cases and audio products. Moreover, Krusell is a subcontractor to
Sony, Samsung, Sanyo, Honda, Toyota and LG.